Why Meghan Markle looked nervous around Kate Middleton and took two steps back

Just two days after Queen Elizabeth II's death in September 2022, the so-called "Fab Four", Prince William, Kate Middleton, Prince Harry, and Meghan Markle, reunited for a surprise walkabout outside Windsor Castle. 

But behind the carefully curated image of unity, body language experts say Meghan was far from comfortable.

A now-viral moment from the outing shows Meghan exchanging eye contact with Kate before taking two cautious steps back. 

Prince Harry then gently places a comforting hand around her.

Body language expert Judi James told Femail that Meghan’s retreat spoke volumes: “This is a phenomenal and unexpected scene that displays some natural caution and awkwardness in the body language.”

James continued: “The four line up together to suggest some form of unity, and it is William, with his puffed chest and air of confidence, who looks like the leader and instigator.”

According to the expert, Meghan appeared "nervous" and possibly overwhelmed by the moment, not surprising given the couple's bombshell Oprah interview just a year earlier, where they accused the royal family of racism and emotional neglect. 

That 2021 interview drove a deep wedge between the Sussexes and the rest of The Firm, especially William and Kate.

As for Princess Kate, Judi noted that even though she stayed close to William, she appeared "slightly distanced" from Meghan and Harry. 

The Princess of Wales later reportedly called the public walkabout “one of the hardest things she’d ever had to do.”

The moment marked the first time Meghan and Kate had been seen together since Commonwealth Day in March 2020, and possibly the last for a long while. 

Especially after Prince Harry's recent High Court loss over UK security protections.

What did Prince Harry say in his BBC interview? 

In Prince Harry’s emotional interview with the BBC, he lamented being estranged from his father and claimed King Charles “won’t speak” to him due to the ongoing security row.

Life is precious,” Harry said. “I don’t know how much longer my father has. It would be nice to reconcile.”

Meanwhile, Buckingham Palace issued a rare response following Harry’s comments, saying: “All of these issues have been examined repeatedly and meticulously by the courts, with the same conclusion reached on each occasion.”

RELATED: Kate Middleton silently shuts down Meghan Markle's 'no hugs' accusation